Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen

The Department of Ecology is hiring a Permit Fee and Records Specialist (Fiscal Specialist 1) within the Water Quality Program.

This is a temporary position that is expected to last 12 months.

Location:

• Headquarters Office in Lacey, WA.
• Upon hire, you must live within a commutable distance from the duty station.

Schedule:

• This position is eligible for telework and flexible schedule options.
• A minimum of two days per week is required in the office. 
• Schedules are dependent upon position needs and are subject to change.

Application Timeline: 

• Apply by May 13, 2026
• This position will remain open until filled. The agency reserves the right to make a hire at any time after application review begins. Applications received after the date above may not be considered.

As the Permit Fee and Records Specialist for the Water Quality Program, you will help ensure accurate and consistent water quality permit fee assessments. As part of the Permit Fee Unit, you’ll work closely with a small, collaborative revenue collection team known for strong teamwork and excellent internal and external customer service. Together you will support the collection of fees from more than 7,000 permittees each year by reconciling records, processing fee assessments, and assisting customers. This funding is essential to the Water Quality Program’s ongoing work to protect Washington’s waters.

In this role, you’ll gain valuable experience with the program’s billing and permitting systems, learn how fee assessments are developed, and help maintain high-quality fiscal and permit records. You’ll work closely with the Permit Fee Unit and Fiscal’s Accounts Receivable staff, gaining exposure to accounting tasks such as invoicing, payments, refunds, and delinquent account processes. We’re looking for a motivated individual who is ready to dive in, contribute to team success, and grow in a position that directly contributes to clean, healthy water for communities and aquatic life across Washington.

What you will do:

• Support the Water Quality Program’s revenue collection efforts as part of the collaborative Permit Fee Unit.

• Reconcile permit fee accounts between the billing system and the accounts receivable system.

• Process fiscal paperwork for moving payments between accounts and issuing refunds.

• Review and process annual data collected from permittees that is used to set fees in the billing system.

• Assist with monitoring and resolving delinquent accounts to ensure timely and complete revenue collection.

• Update permittee contact and account information in the billing system to maintain accurate records.

For detailed information on how we calculate experience and responses to other frequently asked questions, please visit our Recruitment website.

Required Qualifications:

Three (3) years of experience and/or education as described below:

• Experience in accounting and fiscal record keeping, which may include:
  • Managing accounting, customer, employee, or financial records
  • Working in billing and accounts receivables systems with a strong knowledge of understanding ledgers
  • Auditing records for discrepancies and recommending or making corrections as needed
• Education involving a major study in accounting, finance, business administration, or a related field.

Examples of how to qualify:

• 3 years of experience.
• 2 years of experience AND 30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter college credits.
• 1 year of experience AND 60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter college credits (Associate’s degree).
• No experience AND 90-119 semester or 135-179 quarter college credits or higher.

Desired Qualifications:

• Intermediate experience using Microsoft Office (Word, Outlook, Excel, SharePoint).
• Demonstrated ability for attention to detail and strong organizational skills while working in a fast-paced work environment.
• Experience in managing documents, specifically records and record-management databases.
• Experience in assessing fees, processing invoices, and data quality assurance. 

If you are excited about this role and meet the required qualifications, we encourage you to apply. Desired qualifications reflect additional knowledge, skills, or experience that are nice to have but not required. Studies have shown that some applicants, especially women and people of color, are less likely to apply unless they meet every listed qualification. At the Department of Ecology, we are dedicated to building a diverse and authentic workplace centered in belonging, and we welcome applicants with varied backgrounds and unique perspectives.

Ecology does not use the E-Verify system; therefore, we are not eligible to extend STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT). For more information, please visit www.uscis.gov.

Our Commitment to DEIR

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Respect (DEIR) are core values central to Ecology’s work. We strive to be a workplace where we are esteemed for sharing our authentic identities, while advancing our individual professional goals and collaborating to protect, preserve, and enhance the environment for current and future generations.

Diversity: We celebrate and appreciate diversity; our unique perspectives and abilities enrich us all and lead to innovative approaches and solutions.

Equity: We champion equity, recognizing that each of us need different things to thrive.

Inclusion: We intentionally create and hold space so that we all have meaningful opportunities to participate and contribute to Ecology’s work.

Respect: We treat each other with respect and dignity, acknowledging the inherent worth of our diverse perspectives and lived experiences, even in times of uncertainty and disagreement.

We believe that DEIR is both a goal and an action. We are on a journey, honoring our shared humanity and taking steps to demonstrate our commitment to a vision where each of us is heard, seen, and valued.

Application Process

Ecology seeks diverse applicants: We view diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect through a broad lens including race, ethnicity, class, age, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, immigration status, military background, language, education, life experience, physical disability, neurodiversity, and intersectional identities. Qualified job seekers from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

How to Apply

Click “Apply” at the top of this page. Complete the entire application, including full work history and responses to all supplemental questions, and attach:

• Cover letter, describing your interest in and qualifications for this position
• Resume

Because we base our selection on the information you provide, it is in your best interest to complete the application thoroughly. A resume will not substitute for the “work experience” section of the application or vice versa. Applications with blank fields or supplemental question responses with comments such as “see resume” may be considered incomplete.

Application Attestation: By submitting an application, you are affirming that the information contained in your application and on all attachments is complete and truthful. The state may verify this information, and any false or misleading answers may result in rejection of your application or dismissal if employed.

Need an Accommodation?

If you need reasonable accommodation during the application and/or screening process, including this job announcement in an alternate format:

• Please contact us at 360-407-6186 or careers@ecy.wa.gov
• If you are deaf or hard of hearing, you may call through the Washington Relay Service by dialing 711 or 1-800-833-6384.

Questions?

• For specific questions about the position location options, schedule, or duties, please contact Ligeia Heagy at Ligeia.Heagy@ecy.wa.gov 
• If you need assistance applying for this job, are inquiring about the status of your application, would like to request the full position description, or have any other questions, please contact the Recruitment Team at careers@ecy.wa.gov

About the Department of Ecology

As the State of Washington’s environmental protection agency, we are deeply committed to protecting, preserving, and enhancing Washington’s environment for current and future generations. Joining Ecology means becoming part of a team dedicated to protecting and sustaining healthy land, air, water, and climate in harmony with a strong economy. A career in public service at Ecology allows you to help solve some of the most challenging problems facing our state, while keeping your health and financial security a priority. We combine one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation with a strong commitment to life/work balance. We invest in our employees to create and sustain a working environment that encourages creative leadership, effective resource management, teamwork, professionalism, and accountability.

Ecology employees may be eligible for the following: Medical/Dental/Vision for employee & dependent(s), Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), Vacation, Sick, and other Leave, 11 Paid Holidays per year, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Tuition Waiver,  Long Term Disability & Life Insurance, Deferred Compensation Programs, Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP),  Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA), Employee Assistance Program, Commute Trip Reduction Incentives, Combined Fund Drive, SmartHealth *Click here for more information

To learn more about Ecology, please visit our website, explore Working at Ecology, check out our Strategic Plan, and connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or our blog.

Equal Opportunity Employer: The Washington State Department of Ecology is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of disability, persons over 40 years of age, veterans, military spouses or people with military status, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply.

Collective Bargaining: This is a position covered by a bargaining unit for which the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE) is the exclusive representative.  

Note: This recruitment may be used to fill other positions of the same job classification across the agency. Once all the position(s) from the recruitment announcement are filled, the recruitment may only be used to fill additional open positions for the next sixty (60) days.

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